The Cobham Band on Sunday 14th February 2010 entered the scaba (Southern Counties Amateur Band Association) Solo, Quartet & Ensemble Contest held at Ringmer Community College, East Sussex, which was adjudicated by David Johnson.
The band was able to field three quartets:
Cobham A – Chris Eicke (Eb Bass); Simon Jackson (Eb Bass); David Beck (Bb Bass); Roy Atkin (Bb Bass)
Cobham B – Joe Smith (Bb Cornet); Beryl McMillan (Bb Cornet); Jeff Bamber (Tenor Horn); Geoff Charles-Edwards (Euphonium)
Cobham C – Matthew Ruel (Bb Cornet); Simon Bristow (Bb Cornet); Paul Barker (Tenor Horn); Gerry Curtis (Euphonium)
Everyone involved put in a tremendous amount of effort and hard work in preparation for the contest and thoroughly enjoyed the process and listening to each others quartets perform. As the adjudicator said, “the losers are those who did not participate and so we are all winners”.
In the Third Section there were ten (10) entries, the other bands competing were Oxted, Lingfield, Patcham, and Mayfield. ‘Cobham C’ played off number one and performed Wagner’s ‘Rienzi’ and was awarded 4th place; ‘Cobham A’ performed ‘Quartet for Tubas’ by Eric Ball and was awarded 7th place; ‘Cobham B’ performed Wagner’s ‘Tannhäuser’ and was placed 8th.
Place; Band; Draw; Points
1; Oxted; 9; 179
2; Lingfield ‘A’; 4; 178
3; Patcham ‘A’; 2; 177
4; Cobham ‘C’; 1; 176
5; Mayfield ‘B’; 7; 175
6; Mayfield ‘A’; 10; 174
7; Cobham ‘A’; 5; 173
8; Cobham ‘B’; 3; 172
9; Patcham ‘B’; 6; 171
10; Lingfield ‘B’; 8; 170
‘Cobham C’ (Matthew Ruel (Bb Cornet); Simon Bristow (Bb Cornet); Paul Barker (Tenor Horn); Gerry Curtis (Euphonium)) also for the first time played up in the Second Section and were the only Third Section (scaba) band to compete in an entry of seven (7). ‘Cobham C’ and the band therefore were very pleased to be awarded another 4th place, performing ‘Petite Suite for Brass Quartet’ by Reginald Heath.
Place; Band; Draw; Points
1; Oxted ‘A’; 5; 177
2; LGB ‘A’; 4; 176
3; LGB ‘B’; 1; 175
4; Cobham; 2; 174
5; Oxted ‘B’; 7; 173
6; Mid Sussex ‘B’; 3; 172
7; Mid Sussex ‘A’; 6; 171
Full results can be accessed from the scaba website: www.scaba.co.uk
The Band on Sunday 5th April (2009) entered the Third Section of SCABA Spring Contest at Hove Town Hall. The adjudicator was Colin Hardy. The Band opened with the March ‘The Elephant’ by James Ord Hume followed by the test piece ‘Three Songs Without Words’ by Eric Ball. The Band is delighted to have been awarded First Prize (1st) in both the March and Test Piece.
Furthermore, a new trophy was introduced this year in the Third Section of the Contest for the ‘Best Solo Cornet Section’ donated by the Band to SCABA in memory of Ruth Smith, a former member. It therefore gave the Band great pleasure in announcing that ‘The Cobham Band’s name is the first to be inscribed on the trophy and to congratulate David Ruel on his presentation of the award ‘Best Conductor’ in the Third Section.
The Band on Saturday 18th October 2008 entered the third section of Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association, Autumn Contest at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. The adjudicator was Roy Sparkes. The Band played the hymn tune, Beethoven followed by Ronald Hanmer’s, Mexican Fiesta. The Band was placed seventh (7th) out of nine (9) in the test piece and the adjudicators’ comments were generally good expressing that the style and musicality had been interpreted correctly. However, the Band is pleased to have WON the hymn tune contest returning with another trophy – a silver cup and certificate! David Ruel is more than pleased with the result, believing that the test of a brass band is how well it plays a hymn tune – the adjudicators comments read, “Good start, well balanced and in tune – nicely controlled – First”.
